Organization · Venture Studio
LabStart
LabStart is a nonprofit climate venture studio based in Oakland, California, dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of innovative climate technologies. It connects undercapitalized entrepreneurs with research-backed innovations, funding, and mentorship.
Overview
What LabStart does
What LabStart is
LabStart is a nonprofit climate venture studio based in Oakland, California, dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of innovative climate technologies. It connects undercapitalized entrepreneurs with research-backed innovations, funding, and mentorship.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Studio
- Founded
- Founded in 2020
- Approximate age
- About 6 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 27, 2026
What Venture studio means
A venture studio is an organization that systematically creates new startups by generating or sourcing ideas, validating them, building early products, recruiting founders or operators, providing shared resources, and retaining meaningful equity in the companies it helps create.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find LabStart elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
LabStart as a funder
Investment thesis
LabStart supports diverse cohorts in launching climate technology startups by connecting undercapitalized founders with resources and opportunities to commercialize innovative technologies from research labs.
Focus narrative
LabStart focuses on climate technology ventures, particularly those that leverage breakthrough research from national laboratories. The organization aims to bridge the gap between lab discoveries and marketable solutions, emphasizing support for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs in the climate sector.
Value beyond capital
LabStart provides funding, training, and intensive support to help founders validate their technology-market fit and build viable companies.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $6,000–$100,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 5
Portfolio context
LabStart's fellows are involved in various innovative projects, including: Aura Life Science: Disrupting biomanufacturing by reducing production costs and enabling carbon-negative production. Bonne Terre Labs: Developing tools for equitable and transparent data center siting and sustainability decisions. Khaya Biosciences: Converting waste from the beer and dairy industries into agricultural products. Sotera Materials: Creating low-carbon, high-performance wall panels to reduce construction waste. AuraChrome: Developing safer, ethically sourced alternatives to toxic makeup ingredients.
Capability profile
LabStart as a program host
Program thesis
LabStart supports diverse cohorts in launching climate technology startups by connecting undercapitalized founders with resources and opportunities to commercialize innovative technologies from research labs.
Focus narrative
LabStart focuses on climate technology ventures, particularly those that leverage breakthrough research from national laboratories. The organization aims to bridge the gap between lab discoveries and marketable solutions, emphasizing support for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs in the climate sector.
Value and support
LabStart offers a two-phase fellowship program that includes funding and training to help founders validate technology-market fit and build viable companies.
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $106,000
- Stipend
- $6,000
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 16 weeks
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Climate & Sustainability
- Regions
- United States
Alumni and track record
Alumni context
LabStart's fellows are involved in various innovative projects, including Aura Life Science, which disrupts biomanufacturing by reducing production costs and enabling carbon-negative production; Bonne Terre Labs, developing tools for equitable and transparent data center siting and sustainability decisions; Khaya Biosciences, converting waste from the beer and dairy industries into agricultural products; Sotera Materials, creating low-carbon, high-performance wall panels to reduce construction waste; and AuraChrome, developing safer, ethically sourced alternatives to toxic makeup ingredients.
Capability profile
LabStart as a publisher
Editorial focus
LabStart is dedicated to supporting diverse cohorts in launching climate technology startups by connecting undercapitalized founders with resources and opportunities to commercialize innovative technologies from research labs. The organization emphasizes bridging the gap between lab discoveries and marketable solutions, with a focus on supporting women and BIPOC entrepreneurs in the climate sector.
Audience value
LabStart provides essential funding and mentorship to help diverse founders in the climate technology sector turn innovative research into viable businesses, fostering inclusivity and sustainability.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- blog
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders
- Regions
- United States
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
LabStart publishes a blog featuring updates on fellows, impact reports, and insights on climate technology.
Common questions
What to know about LabStart
Upseed classifies LabStart under the Venture Studio organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 27, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.